As the 2026 NFL free agency period begins to open up, the Cleveland Browns and general manager Andrew Berry wasted no time making a huge splash this offseason.

The struggling franchise has done an excellent job of building an incredible defense, but the 2025 season proved to fans that the Browns must retool their entire offense before the upcoming season.

Luckily, Berry and the front office took the first step this week.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport on Monday morning, the Browns have agreed to a trade with the Houston Texans for veteran offensive tackle Tytus Howard in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick.

Howard, a former first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Alabama State, has been a staple of the Texans’ offensive line over the past few seasons. Throughout his seven years with the organization, the 29-year-old tackle has played nearly 6,000 snaps, with 2,319 of his snaps occurring over the last two seasons.

While Howard has struggled at times as a run blocker, the longtime veteran offensive lineman has proven to be one of the better tackles in the NFL as a pass blocker. In his last two seasons with the Texans, Howard has allowed six sacks and four quarterback hurries, leading to a PFF pass-blocking grade of 74.9 in 2024 and 76.7 in 2025.

One of the key reasons why Howard could be an ideal fit for the Browns in 2026 is his versatility on the offensive line. The former Houston offensive lineman spent the majority of his career at right tackle, logging 3,588 snaps at the position. However, Howard also has experience at left guard, as he’s played nearly 2,000 snaps inside.

With Howard set to join Cleveland prior to next season, the organization will assume his three-year, $56 million extension that he signed with the Texans back in 2023. However, the offseason acquisition now gives the Browns an established lineman on the right side, and with Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling being heavily considered at pick No. 6, Cleveland could quickly revamp their offensive line this offseason.

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